Apparatus for packing products



Sept. 12, 1944. J. E. BAECHLE ETAL APPARATUS FOR PACKING PRODUCTS Filed Nov. 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

INVENTORS 7 ATTORNE Sept. 12, 1944. J. E. BAECHLE ETAL 2,357,802

APPARATUS FOR PACKING PRODUCTS Filed Nov. 16, 1959 4 Sheets-Shet s umlunw J I83 /7/ /65 l 174 U5 v fi I 175 155 15a I56,

INVENTORS \\v av 2 ATTO NE Patented Sept. 12, 1944 2,357,802 APPARATUS FOR PACKING PRODUCTS James E. Baechle, River Forest, and Henry M. Nicholls, Chicago, 111., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N.

of New Jersey Y., a corporation Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,832 3 Claims. ((1 226 -68) The present invention relates to an apparatus for packing products in cans or containers and has particular reference to introducing an inert gas into a filled can to displace as much as possible of the air trapped therein and then vacuumizing the can to withdraw any air which may still remain after gassing.

In the canning industry as ground coffee and the like are'usually filled into cans and then a vacuum is drawn on the filled can to exhaust the air from the head space and from the spaces between the particles in the can before it is closed and sealed. In order to fully exhaust the air from the interior of the product mass within the can very high vacuums are usually resorted to. Producing such high vacuums requires expensive and elaborate machinery and also requires considerable vacuumizing time and efiort.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming such difliculties by means of a method and apparatus for exhausting entrained air within cans in a simple and inexpensiv manner with results that are comparable to the high vacuums obtained with the use of expensive machinery.

An object. therefore of the invention is. the provision of a method of and apparatus for packing products in cans wherein an inert gas is certain products such first introduced into the cans to displace the bulk of the air trapped therein and then a vacuum is drawn on the can to exhaust any remaining air mixed with some gas thereby obtaining high vacuum results with comparative ease and with the use of a low vacuum, inexpensive machine.

Another obiect is the provision of such an apparatus wherein the inert gas is jetted into the can from the bottom thereof so that the entrained air will be more completely and easily displaced from the can interior and from around the-product particles thereby leaving only the upper end of the can or merely its head space to be exhausted of air by vacuumlzing.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein the steps of procedure are carried on in a continuous operation so that the cans may be rapidly handled with a further I sa ing in cost of packing.

- Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: 7 Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus for carrying out the steps of the instant method invention, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged detail views of operating devices for valves used in the apparatus, the views showing the parts in different positions;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the broken lines 4-4 in Fig. 1, the view also showing filled cans in place in the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a gassing head in ,place within a. filled can, the can and its contents being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a front elevation of a portion of the apparatus as viewed substantially along a plane indicated by the line I-l in Fig. l, with parts broken back and shown in section; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 8-8 in Fig. 4.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate an apparatus in which cans A filled with ground coffee, for example, are adapted to be freed of air and sealed with a cover B. The invention, however, is equally well adapted to the packing of other products than coffee. The filled cans are preferably introduced into the machine in timed order by way of a feed-in device D. The entering cans are immediatelybrought into alignment with a gas jetting head E of a jetting device F. An inert gas, such as for example, carbon dioxide, is introduced into the canto displace the bulk of the air trapped among the particles of the coffee.

Immediately after this gas jetting step, the gas filled cans are transferred to a conveyor G which advances them into-position under avacuum chamber H containing a conventional sealing head J. While in such position a cover feedin device K feeds a cover B into place over the can. The can is then raised vertically to pick up the cover and carry it up into the vacuum chamber. In the chamber a medium vacuum of approximately 25 inches is drawn on the can and the cover is then sealed in place. The sealed can is Certain parts of the machine are similar to those disclosed in United States Patent 1,429,231, issued September 19, 1922 to P. W. Fleischer on Can closing machine and reference should be had to this patent'for a more detailed description than that givenin this specification. The can feed in device Dis one of these parts and includes a rotatable feed disc ll (Figs. 1 and 4) on which the incoming filled cans A are received. This disc is carried on a vertically disposed disc shaft l2 which is journaled in a bearing l3 formed in a gear housing l4 secured to a frame l5 which constitutes the main frame of the machine.

At its upper end the disc shaft l2 carries a timing plate I! which rotates with the disc and in which are located a plurality of spaced radial timing fingers I3. The fingers are disposed in rectangular radial recesses l9 formed in the timing pl te, the fingers being'backed-up by compressica springs 2| which force them outwardly while at the same time rendering them yieldable. These fingers engage between the incomingcans and separate them into predetermined spaced or timed relation for further advance ment through the machine. A guide rail 22, secured in place adjacent the periphery of the disc ll, directs .the spaced cans into the machine as the disc rotates.

The feed-in disc II is continuously rotated by a gear 25 (see Fig. 8) which is secured to the lower end of the disc shaft 12. This gear meshes with an idler gear 26 mounted on a vertically disposed idler shaft 2'! journaled in suitable bearings formed in the gear housing l4. The idler gear is rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine. The rotating feed-in disc ll feeds the cans A directly into the gas jetting device F hereinbefore mentioned.

In the gas jetting device F the cans A are received on a stationary table 3| (Figs. 1 and 4) which is secured to the machine main frame l5. While on the table the cans are propelled along a curved path of travel by a rotatable turret 32 having spaced pockets 33 in which the cans are received from the feed-in device above mentioned. Th movlngcans are guided by an inner curved rail 35 and an outer guide rail 35, these rails being secured to the table.

The turret 32 is mounted on a vertical rotatable sleeve-38 which is ioumaled in a bearing 39 formed in the main frame l5. At its lower end the sleeve carries a driving gear 4| which meshes with an intermediate gear 42 (see Fig. 8) mounted on a short shaft 43 journaled in suitable bearings formed in the main frame IS. The intermediate gear meshes with the idler gear 28. Thus the sleeve 38 and the parts carried thereon rotate in time with the feed-in device D.

At its upper end the rotating sleeve carries a hub 46 which is keyed in place and which supports a round head plate 41 on which the gas jetting heads E hereinbefore mentioned are carried. There are a plurality of these jetting heads, one for each pocket 33 of the turret 32 and each head is carried above its pocket in alignment therewith.

A head E includes a flanged collar 48 which is secured to a head housing 49' having an interior recess 5|. The head housing carries a plurality of depending an hollow gassing needles or tubular gassing elements 52 which at their upper ends communicate with the housing recess 5|. The lower ends are preferably pointed and perforated with a plurality of small holes 53. The drawings show three of these gassing elements secured to each head.

The flanged collar 48 of each of the gassing I5 heads E is secured to the lower end of a vertically disposed movable rod 55 which is carried in a long bearing 56 formed on the head plate 41 adjacent its outer edge. each rod 55 carries a cam roller 51 which projects out beyond the side of its bearing 56 through a long slot 58 formed in the inner sidewall thereof. These cam rollers operate in a cam groove 59 of a stationary barrel cam 6| disposed above the head plat 41.

The earn ii is supported on a. shouldered upper end portion 62 of a vertical stationary shaft 63 which extends down through the sleeve 38. The lower end of the shaft is carried in a bearing 68 formed in a leg section 61 which supports the machine main frame I5. This lower end of the shaft is threaded and carries a threaded hand wheel 58 which is interposed between the lower end of the sleeve 38 and the top of the bearing 65 so that by turning the hand wheel, the stationary shaft and the machine parts carried thereon may be raised or lowered for vertical adjustment and also to accommodate the jetting heads E to different heights of cans. This construction of gas jetting device permits the heads E to rotate around the stationary cam 6| in time with the can turret 32.

Thus when a can A moves into a pocket 33 of the turret, it is received in position directly under a raised gas jetting head E and moves with the turret in this alignment. During its movement around the curved path of travel the head E moves down and inserts the gas jetting elements 52 into the contents of the can as shown in Fig. 5. This is brought about by the shape of the cam groove 59 as it is traversed by the cam roller 51 associated with the particular head under consideration. This inserting movement terminates when the pointed ends of the jetting elements reach a position just short of the bottom of the can.

While the jetting elements are in this position, being equally distributed throughout the product mass, a charge of the inert gas is discharged from them into the can. This action displaces the air forcing it up from the bottom as hereinbefore mentioned. The gas being heavier than air, more eifectively lifts the air out so that at the end of the gassing operation the product particles of the contents are surrounded with gas instead of air, substantially the onl; air remaining being near the top of the can.

Introduction of the gas into the jetting elements 52 is effected by way of a plurality of passageways connecting with a source of such gas in a manner which will now be described. For this purpose, a gas distributor plate (I (Figs. 1 and 4) is located just above the stationary cam 6| and is supported on lugs 12 formed on the head rod bearings 56 adjacent their upper ends H so that the plate will rotate with the head plate 41. The distributor plate is formed with a hub 14 having a shouldered recess 15 which surrounds a hub 15 of the stationary cam 6|. In the recess space between the distributor plate hub and the cam hub a pair of spaced sealing rings 11 set off an annular gas feeding channel 18.

The gas feeding channel 18 is at all times in communication with a suitable source of supply of the inert gas. This is effected by way of a short horizontal bore 8| formed in the cam hub 16. The outer end of the bore communicates with the gas feeding channel while its inner end leads into the lower end of a vertical bore 82 At the upper end, v

also formed in the cam hub. A gas supply pipe 83 is threaded into the cam hub and opens into the vertical bore. It is this supply pipe that leads to the supply of gas.

Gas in the feed-in channel 18 is distributed to the several heads F by way of radial passageways 88 in conduits 81 formed integrally with the distributor plate H. The inner ends of each passageway communicates with the feed-in channel 18. The outer end of each passageway leads into a valve which includes a valve recess 88 in a valve casing 89 formed on the outer end of each of the conduits 81. rotatable valve cylinder 9| which is adapted to be rotated or rocked to open and close the 'valve in a manner which will be hereinafter explained. There is one of these valve for each of the jetting heads E.

The inner end of each valve cylinder BI isformed with a longiutdinal bore 92 which at all times is in communication with its gas passageway 86. The cylinder is also formed with a radial bore 93 which extends from the. outer surface of the valve cylinder into the bore 92. In one position of the valve cylinder the radial bore 93 is in communication-with a hole 95 formed in the side wall of the valve casing'89. The'hole is at all times in communication with the interior of a vertical tubular member 91 which is formed integrally with the head plate 41 and is located adjacent the head rod bearing 56. There is one of these tubular members for each jetting head E.

The lower end of the tubular member 91 is recessed to retain a sealing ring 98 which surrounds a vertically n'iovable tube 99. The lower end of the tube is provided with a head II which is secured by a stuffing box nut I02 in a boss I03 formed on the flanged collar 48 of each gassing head E. Such a construction provides for vertical movement of the heads relative to the tubular members 91. The flanged collar boss I03 is formed with an. opening I04 which leads from theiower end of the tube 99 into the recess 5I in the head housing 49.

Hence when the valve cylinder 9I is in open position there is a clear passageway from the main gas supply pipe 93 into the gas jetting elements 52 and the cans A into which they are inserted. When the valve cylinder is rocked to shift its radial bore 93 out .of alignment with The valve casing houses a the tubular member 91, communication between these two is cut off and the flow of gas thereby stops. 7

Rocking of the valve cylinder is brought about by a finger wheel I01 (Figs. 1,2, 3 and 4) which is secured to the outer end of the cylinder 9|. There is one of these finger wheels for each valve. The wheel serves as a cover for the outer end'oi the valve casing 89 and is heldin frictional engagement therewith by a bracket I08 which is secured to the valve casing. The finger wheels )1 are formed with an.upper projecting finger 'III and a similar lower finger II2, for rocking the cylinder into open and closed position.

The rocking of the valve cylinder 9I is done in time with the insertion of the gas jetting elements 52 into the cans to be gassed. This is brought about by a pawl II5 (Figs. 1 and 6) which is movable into and out of the path of travel of the wheel finger H2. The pawl is formed on the outer end of a lever II6 mounted on a vertical shaft II1 which at its upper end is carried in a bearing II8 formed on a stationary arm II9 supported on top of the stationary cam bearing I22 formed at the outer edge of the table 3I.

A detector lever I24 is also keyed to the lower end of the shaft II1. This lever is normally maintained in the path of travel of the cans A carried around with the gas jetting device and is so positioned by a tension spring I26 which is coiled around the upper end of the shaft. One end of the spring is secured in the bearing II8 while the other end is iastened in the lever H6. A stop I21 formed on the lever I24 is provided to engage against the outer guide rail 36 and this limits the inward movement of the lever.

The normal position of the pawl H5 is out of the path of travel of the wheel fingers II2 as they move around with the jetting device so that if no can is in position to be gassed when a jetting head E passes the detector lever I24 the valve 9| will remain 610.;8d. This prevents loss of gas. However, when a can A comes into position adjacent the detector lever I24 the can pushes the lever outwardly and this rotates the shaft I I1 and the pawl lever I I6 mounted thereon.

Accordingly the pawl II5 moves out into the path of. the finger II2 associated with the approaching jetting head for.the particular can ,under consideration and just after the head moves down into the can the finger wipes against the pawl and is rocked through. a partial rotation. This rocking of the finger rotates the valve cylinder 9| into open position and thereby per- .mits gas to flow through the various passageways and through the gassing elements 52 from which it discharges into the can.

The valve remains open long enough for the can to move through a predetermined distance along its curved path of travel and this permits the can to receive a predetermined volume of gas. Then the valve is closed. Closing of the valve is brought about by thewheel upper finger III wiping against a stationary lug I3I as the jetting head under consideration moves past. This turns the valve cylinder 9| in the opposite direction to that just explained and thus closes the valve. This cuts oil further flow of the gas into the jetting head and the can.

The lug I3I is formed onvan arm I32 which is mounted on top of the arm II9. Both of these arms are held in position by the head 01 a clamping stud I33 which is threadedly secured in the upper end 01' the stationary shaft 62 (see Fig. 4). The hub of the upper arm I32 is adjustably bolted tothe lower arm 9 by a cap screw I35 so that the upper arm may be shifted through an arc to change the distance between its lug III and the pawl II5. with this construction the period of gassing, or in other words, the-length of time that the gas valve remains open, may be altered or. adjusted to suit desired requirements. Openings I31 are also provided in the hubs of both arms IIB, I32 to permit the gas supply pipe 03 to extend up out of the hub 16 of the stationary machine main frame II. One of the sprockets (shown at the right iii-Fig. 1) serves as a driving sprocket and this in turn is rotated by a sprocket I45 which is mounted on the lower end of the I. The lower end of the shaft is carried in a .70 shalt.

Sprocket I45 is driven by a chain I48 which operates over a driving sprocket I41 mounted on a main drive shaft I48 journaled in suitable bearings formed in the main frame. It is this drive shaft that also drives the jetting device F and the can feed-in device D. This conveyor construction and the devices associated with it, which will be hereinafter explained, are usual closing machine devices which are disclosed in the above mentioned Fleischer patent.

The conveyor G operates in a groove I5I formed in the table 3I and carries a plurality of spaced short dogs I52 and long dogs I53 which project up above the top of the table. A gassed can is placed on the conveyor at the proper time so that a passing short dog I51 engages behind it and thus propels the can in a straight line along the table. The can is guided between a pair of guide rails I55, one of which is a continuation of the curved outer guide rail 38 of the jetting device F.

The guided can is conveyed into position on top of a lifter pad I58 which is disposed in the path of travel of the moving can. The lifter pad is vertically movable and is lifted at the proper time by any suitable means operating in time with the other moving parts of the machine, the pad being vertically slotted to clear the conveyor during this movement.

The rising lifter pad lifts the gassed can above and out of engagement with the short dog I52. This permits the dog to pass under the can leaving the latter resting on the pad in a predetermined location. It is on this upward travel that the can picks up its cover B as will now be explained.

The covers B are preferably fed individually from the bottom of a stack of such covers retained in a magazine I8I (Fig. 7) which is disposed over the top of the table 3|. The magazine includes a plurality of .vertically disposed rods I82 which hold the covers in place and these rods are secured in a base plate I83, which may be supported on the table 3I,' and the main frame I5 in any suitable manner. The cover; in the magazine extend down through an opening I84 formed in the base plate, the lowermost cover in the stack being adjacent the cover feed device K.

The cover feed device K includes a reciprocating feed bar I68 which slides in a slideway I81 formed ina feed housing I68 secured to the bottom of the magazine base plate. The feed bar is reciprocated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine. This feed bar is provided intermediate its length with a spring held depressible feed dog I88.

Hence on a forward stroke of the feed bar I88 the lowermost cover B of the stack is pushed out from under the stack' by the feed dog I88 and is advanced along a guide groove I1I in the feed housing I88. The cover is advanced to a position midway between the magazine and the lifter pad station and is there brought to rest while the feed bar returns on a backward stroke. A spring held pin I12 in the magazine base plate engages in back of the advanced cover and prevents its return with the feed bar.

On the next forward stroke of the feed bar the inner end of the bar engages the advanced cover and further advances it, this time bringing it to rest in a seat I14 surrounding an opening I15 in the feed housing and disposed directly above the rising can A on the lifter pad. It is this seated cover which is picked up by the can as it is lifted up through the opening I15. This the inserted can and thus seals the chamber.

While the can is still rising within the chamber a vacuum is drawn on the chamber and the can interior by way of a pipe I84. One end of the pipe is secured in a side wall of the casing while the other end leads to a suitable source of vacuum supply. In this chamber what little air that remains in the can, after the gassing operation, is drawn oil. Some small quantity of diffused gas and air may also be withdrawn.

It will be remembered that this residual air is mostly adjacent the top of the can so that it can be easily and quickly exhausted, the greater portion of the can interior around its contents being filled with the inert gas. This vacuumizing step is effected while the can .is still rising.

At the top oi the upward stroke of the lifter pad I58, the gassed and vacuumized can and its superimposed cover is brought into engagement with the seaming head J. This is a usual type of head used in can closing machines such as that disclosed in the Fleischer patent and is preferably of the character which unites the cover with the can by an interfolding of flange parts formed thereon so that the resulting end seam. will be a double seam. The head is rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other movable parts of the machine to effect the sealing or closing operation.

'The sealed can is next lowered to its original position on the conveyor G by a downward stroke of the lifted pad I58. During this downward movement of the can, a long dog I58 of the conveyor comes into position adjacent the lifter pad and sweeps the sealed can OK the pad onto the table 3|. The long dog remains in back of the can and propels it across the table between a pair of spaced and parallel guide rails I 88 which are secured to the table 3|. These guide rails direct the sealed can toward the discharge end of the machine from which it may be conveyed to any suitable place of deposit.

It is thought that th invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts of the apparatus mentioned herein and in the steps and their order of accomplishment of the process described herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the apparatus and process hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. Ina machine for treating filled containers by the use of inert gas for sweeping out the air in the container and in the interstices of the product incident to vacuumlzing and sealing the container, the combination of a gas jetting head movable with a said container in a circular path of travel, said head being also vertically movable relative to said container, a plurality of depending tubular gassing elements carried by said head,

means for lowering said head to insert said gassing elements through the product within the container to a position adjacent the bottom thereof, means for discharging inert gas through gaging means normally disposed out of the path of travel of said valve, and means disposed-in the path of travel of said container and actuated thereby for projecting said valve engaging means into the path of travel-of said valve to open the same for gassing the container.

2. In a machine for treating filled containers by the use of inert gas for sweeping out the air in the container and in the interstices of the product incident to vacuumizing and sealing the container, the combination of a gas jetting head movable with a said container in a circular path of travel, said head being also vertically movable relative to said container, a plurality of depending tubular gassing elements carried by said head, means for lowering said head to insert said gassing elements through the product within the contalner to a position adjacent the bottom thereof, means for discharging inert gas through said inserted gassing elements into the product adjacent the bottom of the container to displace the air therein, a normally closed valve carried by said head for controlling the admission of gas to the head and to said gassing elements, valve engaging means normally disposed out of the path of travel of said valve, means disposed in the path of travel in said container and actuated thereby for projecting said valve engaging means into the path of travel of said valve to open the same for gassing the container, and means disposed later in the path of travel of said valve for engaging and losing said valve.

3i In a machine for treating filled containers by the use of inert gas for sweeping out the air in the container and in the interstices of the product incident to vacuumizing and sealing the container, the combination of a. gas jetting head movable with a said container in a circular path of travel, said head being also vertically movable relative to said container, a plurality of depending tubular, gassing elements carried by said head, means for lowering said head to insert sa'l gassing elements through the product within the container to a position adjacent the bottom thereof, means for discharging inert gas through sad inserted gassing elements into the produce adjacent the bottom of the container to displace the air therein, a normally closed valve carried by said head for controlling the admission of gas to the head and to said gassing elements, valve engaging means normally disposed out of the path of travel of said valve, means disposed in the path of travel of said container and actuated thereby for projecting said valve engaging means into the path of travel of said valve to open the same, means disposed later in the path of travel of said valve for engaging and closing said valve, and means for changing the circumferential distance between said valve opening and closing means to vary the time interval of the gassing operation.

JAMES E. BAECHLE. HENRY M. NICHOLLS. 

